France’s Finance Minister, Eric Lombard, has called for the extension of ongoing trade negotiations between the European Union and the United States, currently set to conclude by July 9.

Lombard emphasized the importance of reaching a strong and balanced agreement rather than rushing to meet the deadline.

The talks face growing pressure as U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that failure to reach a deal could result in increased American tariffs on a wide range of European exports, including automobiles and pharmaceuticals.

Negotiations have made limited progress, and sources close to the discussions told Reuters that many European officials now expect the 10% "reciprocal" tariff imposed by Washington in April to serve as the starting point for any potential agreement.

"I believe we will reach a deal with the Americans," Lombard said in an interview with La Tribune Dimanche. "But regarding the deadline, I would prefer a postponement. A strong deal is better than a weak one concluded by July 9."

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had previously indicated that deadlines could be extended for countries negotiating in good faith, suggesting some flexibility in Washington’s approach.

French President Emmanuel Macron echoed the desire for a swift and practical agreement, but stressed that France would reject any deal that appeared unbalanced. EU leaders discussed a new U.S. proposal during a summit last Thursday, though the European Commission has yet to disclose its details.

Lombard also noted that energy trade might play a role in the agreement, suggesting that the EU could increase imports of American natural gas as an alternative to Russian energy sources. Photo by Jacques Paquier, Wikimedia commons.